Chen Chimutengwende

Chen Chimutengwende is an environmental and health minister in Zimbabwe. He previously directed the School of Journalism at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. In the following viewpoint, he argues that African nations have become marginalized in the world economy. Following Africa’s successful struggles for independence from colonial rule in the 1960s, he contends, the developed nations of Europe and the United States have since endeavored to keep African countries economically dependent on them. For Africans, the results of continued foreign exploitation have included poverty, hunger, natural resource devastation, and underdevelopment. Chimutengwende concludes that Africans must unite in a “second liberation struggle” to resist foreign domination and to promote economic development that meets basic human needs.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How has Africa been harmed by trade...